Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center
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Our Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center's priority is to continue the important work of the Department of the Interior and the USGS, while also maintaining the health and safety of our employees and community. Based on guidance from the White House, the CDC, and state and local authorities, we are shifting our operations to a virtual mode and have minimal staffing within our offices. If you need additional assistance, please contact Claudia Regan at cregan@usgs.gov or Judy O'Dwyer at jodwyer@usgs.gov.
Featured Research
Click here to learn about the use of DNA in detecting aquatic invasive species & pathogens.
Detecting Invasives
NOROCK Quick Links
Check out our most up-to-date data, events and science.
Using DNA to track invasive aquatic species & pathogens
Retreat of Glaciers in Glacier National Park
Glacier Repeat Photography Project
NOROCK ScienceNews
Chronic Wasting Disease: Can Science Save Our Dear Deer?
What’s in a name? Chronic wasting disease sounds ominous, too descriptive for comfort, almost impolite in its directness. It is, in fact, a truthful name for a disease and a real threat to North America’s cervids.
Use of Robotic DNA Samplers That Can Rapidly Detect Invasive Aquatic Species
USGS researchers and their collaborators demonstrated the efficacy of using robotic environmental DNA samplers for bio surveillance in freshwater systems, showing that samples collected, processed, and preserved by robotic sampler detect organism DNA in the environment at rates comparable to those collected traditionally by human technicians.
IGBST Public Notifications and Resources
As part of ongoing efforts required under the 2016 Yellowstone Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy to monitor the population of grizzly bears in the Yellowstone Ecosystem, the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST) captures and monitors grizzly bears for research and monitoring purposes. Here you will find capture notifications for the 2020 field season.
Publications
Thermal constraints on energy balance, behaviour and spatial distribution of grizzly bears
1. Heat dissipation limit theory posits that energy available for growth and reproduction in endotherms is limited by their ability to dissipate heat. In mammals, endogenous heat production increases markedly during gestation and lactation, and thus female mammals may be subject to greater thermal constraints on energy expenditure than males. Such...
Rogers, Savannah A.; Robbins, Charlie T.; Mathewson, Paul D.; Carnahan, Anthony M.; van Manen, Frank T.; Haroldson, Mark A.; Porter, Warren P.; Rogers, Taylor R.; Soule, Terrence; Long, Ryan A. Group density, disease, and season shape territory size and overlap of social carnivores
1. The spatial organization of a population can influence the spread of information, behaviour, and pathogens. Territory size and territory overlap, components of spatial organization, provide key information as these metrics may be indicators of habitat quality, resource dispersion, contact rates, and environmental risk (e.g., indirectly...
Brandell, E E; Fountain-Jones, Nicholas M.; Gilbertson, Marie L. J.; Cross, Paul; Hudson, PJ; Smith, Douglas W.; Stahler, Daniel R.; Packer, Craig; Craft, Meggan E. An evaluation of noninvasive sampling techniques for Malayan sun bears
Traditional mark–recapture studies to estimate abundance and trends of Malayan sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) populations are impeded by logistics of live-trapping wild individuals. The development of noninvasive sampling techniques for monitoring sun bear populations is therefore crucial for targeted conservation action. Sun bears have short fur...
Tee, Thye Lim; Lai, Wai Ling; Ju Wei, Terence Kok; Shern, Ooi Zhuan; van Manen, Frank T.; Sharp, Stuart P.; Wong, Siew Te; Chew, Jactty; Ratnayeke, Shyamala